Airport lounge access at over 1,400 locations with the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Up to $400 back per calendar year at participating restaurants with American Express Global Dining Credit
High $1,450 annual fee
3% foreign currency conversion fee
American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard
Why we like it
The American Express Platinum Card comes with a stack of Membership Rewards Points, travel credit, airport lounge access and more. But with a high annual fee you'll need to make sure you're getting your money's worth out of the card.
This card has a Finder Score of 9.9 in the rewards category.
Complimentary extras including travel insurance and a personal concierge
Finder Score of 9.57 in the rewards category
Charges a relatively high annual fee of $375 p.a.
3% foreign transaction fee
Additional cardholder fee of $65 per card
Why we like it
If you're looking to earn a stack of rewards points and get other travel perks, the ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card is hard to beat. It offers 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points if you meet the spend requirements. These points are worth around $800 in gift cards but you could also redeem them for enough Velocity Points to get a return business class flight from Brisbane to Perth.
It has a decent earn rate too, plus complimentary travel insurance. The $375 annual fee is on the higher side, but worth it if you take full advantage of all the card offers, which includes a personal concierge that can help you with travel planning, restaurant or hotel bookings.
Complimentary overseas travel insurance for up to 6 months
$295 annual fee after the first year
3% foreign transaction fee
Why we like it
The St.George Amplify Signature has a generous bonus points offer and a low first-year annual fee. You can convert Amplify Points to Velocity Points, which gives you more options if you want frequent flyer points. It also offers complimentary travel insurance and some nice shopping cashbacks.
This card has a Finder Score of 9.22 in the rewards category.
How we calculate Rewards Credit Card Finder Scores
These cards offer the best ongoing earn rates and sign up offers, coupled with attractive annual fees and perks.
7+
Great
Reasonable rewards cards but may offer slightly lower ongoing or signup offers.
5+
Standard
These cards may offer lower ongoing and sign up points, but could also offer fewer perks or higher annual fees.
0+
Basic
Entry level rewards cards, that offer consumers basic sign up offers and ongoing earn rates.
Rewards score tiers - what you need to know
9+ Excellent - These cards offer the best ongoing earn rates and sign up offers, coupled with attractive annual fees and perks.
7+ Great - Reasonable rewards cards but may offer slightly lower ongoing or signup offers.
5+ Satisfactory - These cards may offer lower ongoing and sign up points, and fewer perks, but probably have lower annual fees.
Less than 5 – Basic - Entry level rewards cards, that offer consumers basic sign up offers and ongoing earn rates.
We analyse 100+ rewards credit cards and look at 6 key features to create our Finder Scores.
For the rewards card category, points from rewards programs are converted to a dollar value, by determining the number of points required to purchase a grocery store gift card, or a direct dollar value conversion, within the rewards program store.
To qualify for the rewards score, credit cards must:
Offer signup or ongoing rewards points affiliated to a rewards program.
Be available to general consumers.
Our aim is to help your with financial decision-making, but please consider your own financial circumstances. While we may make money from commercial partnerships, they have no weight in our methodology. The database is scored objectively and reviewed by our editorial team.
Feature
Definition
Assessment
Weight
Earn Rate
Points earned for every dollar spent on eligible purchases
Points awarded per dollar. Points are converted to a dollar value
30%
Sign-Up Points
Bonus points earned for signing up and meeting spending requirements
Total bonus points offered. Points are converted to a dollar value
30%
Purchase Rate
Interest rate on new purchases
Lower rates receive higher scores (up to 23.99% max)
10%
Earn Rate cap
Maximum points earned in a billing cycle before a lower earn rate applies
Rewards credit cards let you earn points for every dollar you spend. Some cards also offer thousands of bonus points if you spend a certain amount after opening the card.
You can get rewards points with a reward program like CommBank Awards, ANZ Rewards or AMEX Membership Rewards.
How can I use these points?
You can redeem rewards points in different ways:
Cashbacks and gift cards
Hotels, flights and accommodation
Retail goods like cosmetics, electronics and homewares
Frequent flyer points (most rewards program points convert to Velocity or Qantas Points, usually at a rate of 2:1 or 3:1).
Some cards offer cashback instead of points. Some cards offer both.
You can redeem the points via your bank or reward program's store (for example, the NAB Rewards Store).
Do you need a rewards credit card?
Rewards credit cards are suited to bigger spenders, frequent flyers and people who shop a lot. You get rewarded because you're spending money. These cards are not budget or entry level credit cards because the rates and annual fees are higher.
Pros
Points for spending. The most obvious perk of these cards is that you earn rewards of your choice, for money you were going to spend anyway. Why not get a reward for spending?
Bonus points offers. New cards usually offer a bunch of bonus points when you spend a certain amount in the first few months. These points offers should have a dollar value that's greater than the cost of the card's annual fee.
Perks. Rewards credit cards often come with extra perks like complementary travel insurance, purchase insurance, concierge services and lifestyle and entertainment offers.
Cons
Higher rates. To pay for the points and perks, these cards typically charge higher ongoing interest rates than other cards. But if you pay off your balance in full each month the interest rate doesn't matter.
Annual fee. Rewards cards come with an annual fee that can cost several hundred dollars.
Temptation to overspend. The promise of rewards points can lead you to spend more than you usually would.
Rewards limitations. Some rewards cards cap how many points you can earn.
Reward credit cards are popular in Australia, with Finder research showing 29% of Australians got their last credit card for reward points.
Many rewards credit cards in Australia earn points that you can redeem for different types of rewards, including gift cards, retail items, credit on your account, travel or point transfers to other loyalty programs. These flexible rewards programs include:
If you're a member of a frequent flyer program, you can use a credit card to earn more points or miles in 2 ways:
1. Frequent flyer points per $1 spent
Credit cards that directly partner with a frequent flyer program let you earn frequent flyer points on your spending. Points are automatically added to your frequent flyer account once a month (or at regular intervals).
2. Reward point transfers to frequent flyer programs
A lot of rewards credit card let you transfer points to different frequent flyer programs. This gives you more flexibility because you're not locked into earning points for one airline loyalty program.
It's also a way to earn points with programs that don't have co-branded cards in Australia, including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and Emirates Skywards.
💡 Tip: You can also get a rewards credit card that lets you redeem points for flights, accommodation and other travel experiences without needing to transfer them to a frequent flyer program.
Cashback credit cards
These credit cards give you a way to get cash rewards for your spending, either in the form of credit back on your account or vouchers you can spend.
Some cashback credit cards give you a set percentage of your regular spending as cashback on your account (capped to a max amount), while other cards have introductory offers that provide a one-time account credit or voucher when you meet the spend requirements.
Our expert says: Choose rewards that work for you
"Before you even compare credit cards, why not look at the rewards programs out there. Work out what you actually want. If you specifically want Qantas Points you might be better off with a card that earns Qantas Points directly. But if you're interest in gift cards and retail items, look at the rewards stores for different reward programs and see what's on offer. "
Here's what you need to look at when comparing rewards credit cards:
How can I earn points? How many points will you earn per dollar spent? A bonus points offer can give you a huge amount of value when you get a new card. Some cards have caps on how many points you can earn.
What's the value of the rewards? What is 1,000 points actually worth? Every rewards program is different. If you need 12,000 points to get a $50 gift card and your credit card has an earn rate of 1 point per $1 spent. You would need to spend $12,000 before you could redeem the $50 gift card.
What will the card cost me? The annual fee is the biggest reward card cost. Some rewards credit cards offer no annual fee for the first year or ongoing. The value of the rewards you redeem should be higher than the cost of the annual fee to make it worthwhile. Don't forget the card's interest rate either. You can avoid interest charges by paying your balance in full each statement period.
Foreign transaction fees. Reward credit cards typically charge a fee of 2% to 3.4% for transactions made overseas or online with a business based overseas – including some cards that offer more points per $1 for foreign transactions. So if you want a rewards card for travel or online shopping, check this fee first. You can also compare no foreign transaction fee cards on Finder.
Balance transfer interest rates. A 0% balance transfer offer could help you save if you move a balance from one card to a new rewards card. But you won't earn points for the balance transfer, and may be charged interest on new purchases while you're paying it off. So it's typically wise to focus on repaying it before using the card to earn points on new purchases.
Cash advances. If you use a rewards credit card to get money from an ATM or for another cash advance transaction, you'll be charged a cash advance fee of around 3%. Most cards also have higher interest rates for cash advances (up to around 30%). And you don't earn reward points for cash advances.
What are eligible purchases on a rewards card? Most everyday spending is eligible to earn points, including groceries, petrol, retail items and travel. Transactions that don't usually earn points include cash advances, BPAY payments and spending with government bodies.
How much do you need to spend to get rewards?
To give you an idea of the potential value of rewards, we've compared the amount of points you need to redeem a $100 gift card through major rewards programs that are linked to credit cards.
Fees, points and redemption values correct as of February 2025.
Based on this table, the minimum spend required for a $100 gift card (or equivalent) is $10,000 with American Express Membership Rewards or Flybuys if your credit card offers 2 points per $1 spent.
"I change my rewards credit card every year to get the best value from bonus points offers. I redeem my bonus points for gift cards or flight rewards and it usually brings in about $500 worth of value. You just have to be vigilant with paying off your card, closing the account before incurring the next year's annual fee, and not churning too frequently because it could affect your credit score."
Each year the Finder Credit Card Awards recognises Australia's top credit cards, with expert analysis of rates, fees and offers based on 12 months' worth of data. These cards might not currently have the most competitive deals for earning rewards points but you can use them as a benchmark against the latest offers.
ANZ's Rewards Black Credit Card took out the top spot in the rewards credit card category with its very compelling offer. The card's high earn rate (2 points per dollar spent), hefty 180,000 bonus points sign-up offer and other benefits made it a strong winner this year.
The NAB Rewards Signature Card received a highly commended placing in the reward category. It offers a stack of bonus points and a high earn rate when you spend with the card.
The Amplify Signature Card comes highly commended with a healthy amount of bonus points and a high earn rate. The discounted annual fee in the first year helps make this a compelling rewards card. St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA all offer this card with identical features.
Frequently asked questions
Finder's database shows that the Citi Prestige Card has the biggest bonus points offer, with 250,000 Citi Rewards Points when you spend $10,000 in the first 3 months. That's enough for $1,100 of Woolworths WISH gift cards or 125,000 Velocity Points based on details listed on the Citi Rewards website.
It's unlikely but does depend on the rewards program and credit card provider. For example CommBank, Westpac, St.George and Virgin Money all list BPAY payments as ineligible to earn rewards.
While other credit card issuers (such as ANZ) doesn't specifically list BPAY transactions as ineligible for points, that doesn't mean you will earn points. Or that you'll be able to use a credit card for a BPAY payment. Check the terms and conditions or ask your provider for details specific to your card.
Every rewards program is different, but here's a general guide to the process of redeeming points:
Log into your account
Browse the rewards and choose one you want
Check that you have enough points or can use points plus pay
Confirm the details and follow the prompts to complete your redemption
Anyone aged over 18 can apply for a credit card when they meet the bank or lender's eligibility criteria. This typically includes:
Minimum income requirement. This can range from $35,000 per year for a basic rewards card to over $100,000 for a premium card. Even when there is no specific minimum income amount listed, your income will need to be enough to manage at least the minimum credit limit, account fees and interest charges.
New cardholder status. Many introductory offers require you to be a new cardholder that hasn't held a similar card (or one from the same brand) in the past 12-18 months.
Residency status. Some lenders require you to be a citizen or permanent resident, while others allow visa holders and temporary residents to apply as well.
Credit history. All credit cards require you to have a good credit history and not be an undischarged bankrupt or have any judgements against you.
If you're eligible to apply, you'll also be required to provide documents including payslips and proof of identification. The provider will then assess the details you provide to determine whether you'll be approved based on their criteria and responsible lending requirements.
With most credit card bonus points offers, you need to spend a certain amount in the first few months or over another period of time. It's important to only spend what you can afford to pay off so you don't end up with interest charges that take value away from the points.
Here are examples of different ways to meet the minimum spend requirements.
Booking travel
Buying major household items (e.g. a lounge or fridge)
Buying a new laptop, tablet, phone or other tech
Pre-paying your health insurance or other bills
Paying for car services or repairs
Seasonal shopping (e.g. school holidays, Christmas)
Paying for everyday expenses (e.g. groceries, fuel, subscriptions)
Bonus points are typically added to your account within 1-12 weeks of when you meet the spend requirement. But it depends on the offer. You can check the fine print or call the credit card company to find out when points will be added to your account.
It's worthwhile if you get more value from rewards than what you're paying for the account. This makes rewards cards more suited to people who already use a credit card regularly and/or can repay what they spend each month.
When comparing your options, ask the following questions:
How much is the annual fee? Reward and frequent flyer credit card annual fees can quickly outweigh the value of rewards, even if you're getting thousands of bonus points.
What are the potential interest costs? Estimate how much you could end up paying if you carry a balance on the card to decide if the risk is worth it for you. For example, if a credit card had a 19.99% p.a. purchase rate, a minimum spend requirement of $3,000 in 3 months to get bonus points and it took you 6 months to pay that amount off, you'd be charged around $177 in interest.
How much are the points worth? Look at the value of the points based on what rewards you want to redeem. For example, if 100,000 bonus points was worth $500 in digital gift cards, that could help justify a card's annual fee. It's worth looking at a few reward options for any card offering bonus points. You can also calculate the dollar value of your points.
When do you want to use your points? The time it takes for you to earn enough points for your ideal reward could be a few weeks. But it could be a lot longer if you're saving up points per $1 spent or waiting for a particular reward to become available (especially flight rewards). So it can be helpful to have a timeframe in mind, then work out how many points you'd realistically earn through the card.
Depending on the card and rewards program, the points could be transferred to another person, converted into a statement credit or cancelled.
You can find details for your rewards program by looking at the terms and conditions, or by asking the provider. They should also let you know what options are available when they're notified of someone's death.
Why you can trust Finder's credit card experts
Points mad - Who doesn't love points? We do. Whether it's Qantas and Velocity, or one of 50+ other rewards programmes in Australia - we live track over 100 offers daily so you get more prizes.
Ranked objectively - Whether you're a points ninja with dreams of running your own YouTube channel, or a total newbie wanting a taste of the perks life -we got you. Cards are ranked for popular features to show you a simple score out of 10.
Match making is our jam - We're not owned by a bank, we don't have a call centre. Our only mission is to match you with the card of your dreams.
Aaron Christie-David, alongside his wife Bernadette, co-founded Atelier Wealth Mortgage Brokers in 2016. In this time, Aaron has earned recognition as an MPA Top 100 broker four times and garnered numerous industry accolades, including Brokerage of the Year (Australian Mortgage Awards), Customer Service Awards (MFAA), and NSW All Round Broker of the Year.
As a highly qualified and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the finance industry, Aaron is also the author of The Happy Home Loan Handbook.
Richard Whitten is Finder’s Money Editor, with over seven years of experience in home loans, property and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio
Richard's expertise
Richard has written 585 Finder guides across topics including:
Amy is an experienced journalist with over 16 years of experience, contributing to major publications like Money Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, and ABC News Australia. Specialising in personal finance, she frequently appeared in media outlets and on radio. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Drama from Griffith University and earned RG146 certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, ensuring her expertise is grounded in current financial regulations. Amy was Finder's Senior Writer for Credit Cards from 2016 to 2024. See full bio
Amy's expertise
Amy has written 556 Finder guides across topics including:
I would like a card with points accumulated when i use to shop at groceries and points to put towards my trips when i fly?
Finder
AngusSeptember 16, 2024Finder
Hi Sandy, If your goal is to earn points with grocery shopping, then a good approach is to get a credit card that earns airline points and is also partnered with a major supermarket – that way, you can earn points from paying with the card, and also convert your supermarket loyalty points into additional airline points. Qantas is partnered with Woolworths/Everyday Rewards, while Virgin/Velocity is partnered with Coles/Flybuys, so exploring cards that earn with either of those airlines could help you earn more points. Have fun exploring!
RonJanuary 7, 2018
Can I use diners club rewards with Emirates?
Finder
RenchJanuary 7, 2018Finder
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Yes, the Diners Club Rewards program also allows you to transfer your reward points to 17 airline and travel loyalty programs, including Virgin Australia’s Velocity frequent flyer program, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and Hilton Honors.
I spend and pay off in full about 25K per month of normal spending on my Citi Signature card which since the 1st July 2017 have at best halved their reward points which I use for Qantas flights.
What is the best card now for me to get the most points for my spend per month, ie who is dollar for dollar and uncapped
Finder
HaroldJuly 28, 2017Finder
Hi Kym,
Thank you for your inquiry.
While we cannot recommend what is best for you, we can offer you general information. You can check the list of frequent flyer credit cards featured on our website to learn more.
I would like a card with points accumulated when i use to shop at groceries and points to put towards my trips when i fly?
Hi Sandy, If your goal is to earn points with grocery shopping, then a good approach is to get a credit card that earns airline points and is also partnered with a major supermarket – that way, you can earn points from paying with the card, and also convert your supermarket loyalty points into additional airline points. Qantas is partnered with Woolworths/Everyday Rewards, while Virgin/Velocity is partnered with Coles/Flybuys, so exploring cards that earn with either of those airlines could help you earn more points. Have fun exploring!
Can I use diners club rewards with Emirates?
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Yes, the Diners Club Rewards program also allows you to transfer your reward points to 17 airline and travel loyalty programs, including Virgin Australia’s Velocity frequent flyer program, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, and Hilton Honors.
You can learn more about Diners Club Rewards program.
Best regards,
Rench
I spend and pay off in full about 25K per month of normal spending on my Citi Signature card which since the 1st July 2017 have at best halved their reward points which I use for Qantas flights.
What is the best card now for me to get the most points for my spend per month, ie who is dollar for dollar and uncapped
Hi Kym,
Thank you for your inquiry.
While we cannot recommend what is best for you, we can offer you general information. You can check the list of frequent flyer credit cards featured on our website to learn more.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold